A copy of the Landmark Nomination is available for public review at the Central Library (1000 4th Avenue) and the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ office in Seattle City Hall, 600 4th Avenue, 4th Floor (206-684-0228). It is also posted on the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods website, under the heading of Current Nominations.

To learn more about the city’s landmarks and the Landmarks Preservation Board, visit our website. Historic Preservation is a program of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.

]]>Belltown Neighbors Liven Up Neighborhood P-Patchhttp://frontporch.seattle.gov/2016/11/07/belltown-neighbors-liven-up-neighborhood-p-patch/
Mon, 07 Nov 2016 22:21:36 +0000http://frontporch.seattle.gov/?p=5221Following this summer’s Find It, Fix It Community Walk in the Belltown neighborhood, local resident Christine Federhart submitted a Find It, Fix It Community Project Grant application focused on increasing the vibrancy of the Belltown P-Patch Community Garden. The project was awarded $1,540.

Christine then worked with artist/gardeners Becky Jhu and Hanahn Korman to design and paint a new mural, entitled Why Not Grow?, on the wall and garage of the P-Patch. She also coordinated with Belltown P-Patch Team Lead Chris Gorley to use part of the funds to re-soil, plant, and mulch the common areas of the garden.

Twenty-five community volunteers worked in the garden and on the mural for a total of 177 collective hours. All of their work has gone a long way toward making the immediate boundaries of the garden more friendly, accessible, and colorful.

The mural will be in progress for the next few weeks (weather permitting). If you want to see it in person, it is located on Elliott Avenue near Vine Street.

A copy of the Landmark Nomination will be available for public review after August 9 at the Central Library (1000 4th Avenue) and the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ office in Seattle City Hall, 600 4th Avenue, 4th Floor (206-684-0228). It is also posted on the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods website, (seattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/landmarks.htm), under the heading of “Current Nominations.”

Mayor Murray recently issued an Executive Order directing the city to approach outreach and engagement in an equitable manner. Putting an equity lens on our approaches is bold and, yes, brave. It shows a commitment to practices that address accessibility and equity.

What does this mean?

We often hear that meetings can feel like we are “checking a box.” The Mayor’s action means we can create processes that are more relationship-based and build authentic partnerships.

It means that we can create plans that are culturally sensitive, which includes an emphasis on translated materials.

It means we broaden access points, identify obstacles and turn them into opportunities.

What else does this mean?

It means we have an opportunity to recreate, re-envision and reconcile many lingering issues, including defining the difference between neighborhoods and communities, providing clarity about roles, and creating a system of engagement that builds partnerships with, and between, communities throughout the city of Seattle.

It means that we will be working to expand choices and opportunities for community members throughout this city, recognizing a special responsibility to plan for the needs of those who face barriers to participation.

It means that we’ll work with city offices and departments on community involvement to ensure that they are effective and efficient through the wise use and management of all resources, including the community’s time.

And it means we will expand the toolbox and make some investments in digital engagement.

Seattle is a unique city, and we are fortunate to have so many valuable partners currently at the proverbial table. Those partners play an important role and that role will continue. While we are appreciative of the countless hours our volunteers spend making our city better, we recognize and acknowledge there are barriers to participation. There are communities who cannot be at the table, while there are some communities who don’t even know there is a table. This is where the Department of Neighborhoods comes in.

This is not a power grab. It is a power share. At the heart of this Executive Order is a commitment to advance the effective deployment of equitable and inclusive community engagement strategies across all city departments. This is about making information and opportunities for participation more accessible to communities throughout the city.

“This is not about silencing voices. It’s the exact opposite. It’s about bringing more people into the conversations or at least creating opportunities for people to participate so they can be heard.”

Face-to-face meetings are incredibly important and those are not going away. But not every person can attend a community meeting, and the ability to do so should not determine who gets to participate and who gets to be heard.

We’d love to hear what tools YOU need to be successful and how WE can help you. Share your ideas with us:

This is about making things easier and less exhaustive. This is about connecting communities to government and to one another. This is about moving forward.

Kathy Nyland, Director
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods

]]>http://frontporch.seattle.gov/2016/07/25/advancing-equitable-outreach-and-engagement/feed/1People’s Academy for Community Engagement Now Accepting Applicationshttp://frontporch.seattle.gov/2016/07/19/pace_16-17/
Tue, 19 Jul 2016 18:03:27 +0000http://frontporch.seattle.gov/?p=5095Seattle Department of Neighborhoods is accepting applications to the People’s Academy for Community Engagement (PACE), our civic leadership development program for the next wave of community leaders. The fall session begins September 27 and runs through December 6.

During the 10-week program, 25-30 emerging leaders (18 years and up) will learn hands-on strategies for community building, accessing government, and inclusive engagement from experts in the field. PACE has a strong focus on Seattle’s community and neighborhood organizations and the city’s governmental structure and processes.

Fall sessions will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Miller Community Center. Topics include: Approaches to Leadership, Government 101, Community Organizing, Inclusive Outreach and Public Engagement, Meeting Facilitation, Public Speaking, Conflict Resolution, and Sustaining Involvement.

Given the popularity of the program, PACE will be offered three times a year: winter, spring and fall. The winter session will begin in January of 2017. For more information, visit our webpage and for questions, email PACE@seattle.gov.

]]>Belltown Find It, Fix It Community Walkhttp://frontporch.seattle.gov/2016/06/22/belltown-find-it-fix-it-community-walk/
Wed, 22 Jun 2016 23:07:12 +0000http://frontporch.seattle.gov/?p=5067Mayor Murray’s Find It, Fix It Community Walks provide a unique opportunity for community members to identify neighborhood needs and discuss challenges directly with City leaders. The second walk of the year will be held in Belltown on Tuesday, June 28.

Belltown Find It, Fix It Community Walk
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Sign-in and refreshments provided by Starbucks from 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Program and walk from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Meet at the Belltown Community Center located at 5th Ave and Bell St (415 Bell St)

Participants can use the Find It, Fix It mobile app on the walk. This smartphone app offers mobile users one more way to report selected issues to the City. Make sure to download the app before the walk.

In partnership with Cities of Service, the City will offer up to $5,000 in grants for community-led projects to each 2016 Find It, Fix It Walk neighborhood. The Belltown Community Project Grant Application is available on June 23 at www.seattle.gov/finditfixit until Friday, July 8. If you have an idea for a project in Belltown, apply today!

Belltown residents and business owners are invited to help plan the upcoming Belltown Find It, Fix It Community Walk, the second of seven Mayor-led walks happening this year. During these walks, neighbors, police, and City officials walk together to identify physical elements in the neighborhood that make it feel unsafe or poorly maintained. Once the elements are identified, the City and community work together to fix the problems.

The Belltown walk will be held on Tuesday, June 28 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. and will follow a route determined by community members serving on its Community Walk Action Team. If you are interested in volunteering for this team, contact Find It, Fix It Program Coordinator Laura Jenkins at laura.jenkins@seattle.gov or 206.233.5166.

In addition, Belltown community members are invited to apply for up to $5,000 to complete community projects that improve the safety or appearance of their neighborhood. To apply for a Belltown Community Project Grant, community members can find the application at seattle.gov/finditfixit beginning Thursday, June 23 through Friday, July 8.

Lastly, community members don’t have to wait for the walk to report safety needs or city maintenance issues. They can use the Find It, Fix It mobile app:

]]>Dine Out to Support the Belltown P-Patchhttp://frontporch.seattle.gov/2016/04/22/dine-out-to-support-the-belltown-p-patch/
Fri, 22 Apr 2016 20:58:08 +0000http://frontporch.seattle.gov/?p=4966Do you want to enjoy a delicious meal while also supporting community gardening?

Then join us April 24-28 at Ethan Stowell’s Belltown restaurant Tavolàta. For five nights, Tavolàta’s chefs will be serving up delicious, P-Patch-inspired vegetable dishes and donating the proceeds to our Belltown P-Patch.

“We have been so fortunate to have the opportunity to partner with Tavolàta on this fundraiser for the past three years,” says Eryka Anson, volunteer leader for the Belltown P-Patch. “Ethan Stowell Restaurants are committed to the neighborhoods they serve and Tavolàta is no different! The Belltown P-Patch is a rare piece of green space in the heart of Belltown and fundraisers like this one help to keep it a beautiful place for residents and visitors alike to enjoy.”

The funds raised from Tavolàta will help support the Belltown P-Patch’s efforts to repair a solar fountain and rebuild a community garden bed impacted by nearby construction.

And, the culinary dishes dreamed up by Tavolàta’s chefs should make this the most delicious donation you’ve ever made. This year’s lineup includes:

So, grab your friends and family, attend Tavolàta April 24-28, enjoy one of the above dishes, and delight in the knowledge that proceeds from your night out will strengthen the Belltown P-Patch.

Dine Out for Belltown P-PatchDates: April 24-28, 2016Location: Tavolàta – 2323 Second Ave in Belltown

]]>Join Mayor Murray for this Year’s Find It, Fix It Community Walkshttp://frontporch.seattle.gov/2016/04/12/join-mayor-murray-for-this-years-find-it-fix-it-community-walks/
Tue, 12 Apr 2016 16:41:13 +0000http://frontporch.seattle.gov/?p=4945Today Mayor Ed Murray announced the schedule for his 2016 Find It, Fix It Community Walks to occur in seven neighborhoods this summer and fall. Now in its third year, the walks bring together City officials, business owners, and community members to address each neighborhood’s needs.

“These walks provide a unique opportunity for community members to identify neighborhood needs and discuss challenges directly with City leaders,” said Mayor Murray. “Together we invest in a spirit of engagement and community volunteerism. Find It, Fix It Community Walks are one way the City can support neighbors committed to improving their own communities. I look forward to working with community members this year to make these walks a success.”

This year’s Find It Fix It walks will be held in:

Aurora/Licton Springs – May 31

Belltown – Late June

Roxhill / Westwood – July

Judkins Park – August

Georgetown – September

Crown Hill / Whittier Heights – October

Wallingford – Mid-November

Each walk will follow a route determined by community members on Community Walk Action Teams convened by the Department of Neighborhoods. Specific dates and locations will be announced two weeks prior to each walk.

If you are interested in becoming part of a Community Walk Action Team to help plan a walk in one of the seven neighborhoods, contact the Find It, Fix It Program Coordinator, Hilary Nichols, at hilary.nichols@seattle.gov, (206) 386.1907.

The City will continue to offer Community Project Grants for every walk, which provide up to $5,000 to support community-led revitalization and beautification projects. In 2015, 166 community volunteers, with assistance from City staff, completed 18 projects around the city. Projects included painting a mural on a public staircase in South Park, constructing a community kiosk in Cascade, and planting flowers in Hillman City.

Mayor Murray spearheaded the Find It, Fix It Community Walks in 2014 in partnership with Cities of Service, a national nonprofit that works with cities to provide support and training to encourage civic volunteerism.

If your group needs funds to do a neighborhood project, our Neighborhood Matching Fund may be able to help. However, you’ll need to be quick because the application deadline for the Small and Simple Projects Fund is Monday, October 5 at 5:00 p.m. This fund provides awards of up to $25,000 to for community-building projects that are matched by community contributions.

The final workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, September 2 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at University Heights Community Center (Room 209), 5031 University Way NE. The workshop provides an overview of the Neighborhood Matching Fund, the qualities of a good project, and the application process and requirements. To RSVP, go online at surveymonkey.com/r/ZHM36BJ or call 206-233-0093. The workshop is open to all.

Our Neighborhood Matching Fund staff is available to advise groups on ways to develop successful applications and projects. You are strongly encouraged to call 206.233.0093 or email NMFund@seattle.gov to discuss your project idea with one of our project managers.

The Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) Program awards matching funds for projects initiated, planned, and implemented by community members. Its goal is to build stronger and healthier neighborhoods through community involvement and engagement. Every award is matched by a neighborhood’s contribution of volunteer labor, donated materials, in-kind professional services, or cash.